Cheesecake Factory targets 2022 for gestation-stall elimination

The Cheesecake Factory is the latest restaurant chain to join 33 other food companies committed to eliminating gestation-sow stalls from their supply chains. While the Cheesecake Factory is known for its decadent cheese cake offerings, it also features a vast menu with more than 200 items. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) released the announcement on Thursday.

“We have already taken steps to engage our pork suppliers to gain an understanding of their plans for transitioning away from the use of gestation crates and their timeline for doing so,” according to The Cheesecake Factory statement. “We are currently working with them to develop plans to eliminate gestation crates from our pork supply chain by a 2022 target date.”

The company based in Calabasas Hills, Calif., currently touts “all natural chicken, raised with no added hormones” and “premium beef that is Certified Angus, USDA American Style Kobe Wagyu” on its menu. The Cheesecake Factory operates 173 full-service, casual dining restaurants in 37 states.

“We applaud The Cheesecake Factory for tackling one of the most serious farm animal welfare problems as part of the company’s commitment to sustainability,” says Josh Balk, HSUS corporate policy director of farm animal protection. “The Cheesecake Factory’s commitment to eliminate gestation crates is further indication these cages have no future in the pork industry.”

Also this week, HSUS filed a shareholder resolution with Seaboard Foods for the company to provide a semi-annual report on its “monetary and non-monetary contributions and expenditures” for political and charitable purposes.

“The pork industry has devoted resources in attempting to thwart animal welfare reforms, even with industries outside their own. We feel shareholders have the right to know who their company is giving political and charitable funds, and allow shareholders to determine if it’s in their best interest,” Balk told Pork Network. “As long as the companies within pork industry continue to actively oppose animal welfare reforms, we’re going to do our part to expose these activities to their shareholders.”